Vegan Chickpea “Tuna” Salad Sandwich

This vegan chickpea ‘tuna’ salad is easy to make, has a wonderful fresh texture and satisfies my comfort food craving. Whip up a batch for a hearty sandwich, salad topping, or light lunch with pita chips. This chickpea ‘tuna’ salad is plant-based, dairy-free, gluten-free, and does not use vegan mayo.

90% of the time I have a salad for lunch, but lately I’ve been on a sandwich kick. Blame the running and the need for some extra carbs. And I’ve been on a bit of a nostalgia kick. Blame the “holy cow it’s my ten-year high school reunion” and the constant texting with high school friends about who we are most curious to see how they turned out. So sandwich nostalgia leads my to a vegan chickpea tuna salad sandwich.

One dish my mom would “make” (and I say “make” because it was mostly opening a can) was tuna salad. Open can. Dump in bowl. Add some celery bits. Squirt in some mayo. Put on sandwich. (I tease, I love you, Mom….. but that’s really what it was like)

Now that I know about the health benefits of eating plant-based, not to mention the positive impact it has had on my athletic performance, I am trying to veganize a lot of recipes. Hence the vegan chickpea “tuna” salad.

To make vegan tuna salad, I substituted chickpeas for tuna and made my own creamy dressing instead of mayo. Yes, I could have used vegan mayo to make the tuna salad, however my goal is to make these recipes more accessible to non-vegans. I want to use ingredients that most people would have in their kitchen so that they are inclined to make the recipe. I know that if I see an ingredient (like vegan mayo) in a recipe, I probably won’t bother making the recipe; I’ll search for something else. If that’s my reaction, then I know someone who is plant-curious will probably have the same reaction. Plus, in my opinion, what I came up with is healthier than vegan mayo and just as tasty.

Vegan Chickpea Tuna Salad

First, drain and rinse the chickpeas. You can also use your own dried chickpeas. Mash in a bowl and set aside Pro tip: I like to leave some chickpeas intact for a heartier texture.

In a small bowl, whisk together the hummus, mustard, lemon juice, ground black pepper and paprika. Add the dressing to the filling mixture and whisk together. Pro tip: if using dried chickpeas, you may need to add more lemon juice or hummus to reach your desired consistency.

Assemble your sandwich with your favorite fixings, or top a bed of greens with a scoop of chickpea tuna salad. Makes about 4 servings.

Lunch with the brother: He had vegan chickpea tuna salad sandwich on an everything bagel, I had the chickpea tuna salad on top of some greens. DELICIOUS. Jon went back for seconds

That’s all there is to it! Vegan chickpea “tuna” salad comes together in 10 minutes or less and is way healthier than regular tuna salad. It’s full of plant-protein, essential vitamins and minerals, and healthy fats – not to mention the wonderful taste! Elevate your sandwich game to the healthier level and try some out.

Share on socials by tagging my @Rabbitfoodruns or using the hashtag #rabbitfoodrunner. Let me know what you think!

Buen provecho,

Becca

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Vegan Chickpea Tuna Salad

Vegan chickpea tuna salad is high in protein and has a creamy texture. It's filling and satisfies my craving for comfort food. The filling is great on sandwiches, with pita chips, or as a salad topper.

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Hey there, I'm Becca! I am a Chicago-based plant-based athlete, certified running coach, and bilingual educator. The Rabbit Food Runner meshes my love of running with a love of living a healthy lifestyle. With this blog I aim to educate, inspire and connect readers. Welcome!

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